Apparatus for forming solidified particles from molten material



April 13, 1948. H. 1.. KLEIN ETAL.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING SOLI DIFIED PARTICLES FROM MOLTBN MATERIAL 3Sheets-Sheet l v Filed April 20 Harold L. Klan John L. CourfrlghtATTORNEY:

Aprii 13, ms.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING SOLIDIFIED PAR Filed April 20,

H. L. KLEIN ETAL TICLES FROM MOLTEN MATERIAL 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEKS April 13, 1948. H. L. KLEIN ETAL 2,439,776

APPARATUS FOR FORMING SOLIDIFIED PARTICLES FROM MOLTEN MATERIAL FiledApril 20, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Harold L, Klei n. By JohnL.Courfr|ghf.

W, M7; M4. ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 13, 1948 APPARATUS FOR FORMINGSOLIDIFIED PARTICLES FROM MoLTEN MATERIAL Harold L. Klein and-John L.(lourtright, Columibus, Ohio, assignors, by mesne. assignments, :toSteel Shot Producers, Ina, Butler, Pa., a corporation of DelawareApplication April 20, 1946, "SBIMI'NO. 6633-652 (Cl. 18-.*-t2;6)

IGLGIaimS. 1

Our invention relates to apparatus for-forming solidified particles frommolten material. Ithas to do, more particularly, with apparatus that isespecially useful for disintegrating molten metal into comparativelysmall droplets or globules which are solidified into solid particles orpellets that are relatively spherical, -nonoxidized, and of desirablehardness. The apparatus described herein is elfective for forming shotfrom molten metal, especially steel shot,

although it is not limitedtothis application.

The apparatus of this present application is designed to perform themethod disclosed in the copending application of James T.-Gow, Ser. No.660,623, filed on the Qthday of April, 1946. The apparatus of thisinvention is an improvement over the apparatus disclosed in saidcopending application for performingthe process disclosed therein.

According to the method disclosed in said 100-, pending application, themolten material is discharged, from a pouring funnel or'the like, in

the form of a streaminto a dish-shaped receptacle which is rotatingabout its own vertically disposed axis at a high rate of speed and"which will throw the metal 'fromits periphery in the form of smallglobules. By regulating the rate of delivery of the molten material tothe receptacle relative to the speed of rotation of the receptacle, thesize of the particles produced may be varied. The diameter of thespinning dish and the speed of its rotation are also factors which maybe varied to produce particles of desired size. Surrounding the spinningdish, there is provided a revolving container which-contains a suitablecooling or quenching liquid such as water. This container is so shapedand-ofsuch size that when his revolved at a proper speed, the coolingliquid contained therein will be formed into a revolving body of liquidhaving a vertical inner surface into which the globules of moltenmaterial, thrown 01f substantially horizontally by the spinning dish,after traveling unsupported through the ambient atmosphere a shortdistance, Will be thrown. Inpassing through the atmosphere unsupported,the globules are formed into more perfect spheres. Because the innersurfaceof the body of liquid is vertical, the particles thrownhorizontally against it from the dish will enterthereinto rather thanglance from such surface. Furthermore, be-- cause the body of liquid isrevolving, further spinning of the globules, 'as-they strike suchsurface, results and thereby offsets the tendency for the globules toflatten upon striking the coolquenching liquid is critical. Thisdistance must be-such' that t-he globules will enter the liquid beforethey have had a chance to solidify or oxidize. "The wall --of quenching.:li'quid must be of su-mcientextent in the direction of travel of theglobules, which enter 'thereinto, that the globules :will be cooled bythe liquid to the solidification point before they strikethe outwardlyand downwardly slopin side wall of the revolving liquid container.Thiswalliserves to guide the pellets or particles to a suitablecollecting point. Thus, the globules will-enter the quenching liquidbefore they can 'be harmed by oxidationand upon-entering the wall ofliquid, they will be fully quench hardened.

"The apparatus --d-isclosed-l'n said copending application, is effectivefor performing .the process described therein. It is not only of smallsize compared to pr-ioruart apparatus, but is of simple and-inexpensivestructuraand is easy and economical to operate-and-maintai-n. However,there' is a need in theart-f'or apparatus of this general type whichwill operate continuously to form the solidified particles and dischargethem continuously without interrupting operation of the machine.

In additiont-o providing uninterrupted operation by continuouslyremoving the solidified particles orpellets, it is also desirable toseparate such par-ticles or pellets from the liquid cooling mediumassoon as practicable, because in certain instances, the material of theparticles may-react with the liquidcool-ing medium. Also, it 'is-desirable-to-elfect the-separation of solidified particles andliquid-cooling medium in the apparatns T n-which the particles areformed in order to reduce'the---tota1 number of steps in the manufactureofthe finished product.

ZEt isptherefore; an object-of our invention to provide apparatus forforming solidified particlesirom molten material which is continuous inoperation to -form the particles, collect them, and --discharge th'emfrom the apparatus into a suitable receptacle.

Another object 0f our invention is to provide acontlnuously operatin:apparatus of the type indicated which will separate the particlesquickly after solidification from the liquid in which they aresolidifiedto precludereaction of the material of the-particles with the "liquid.

Another -o'bjost of our invention is to providecontinuouslyoperatingapparatusofthe type indicatedwliichWill dischargethesolidified par- 3 ticles therefrom relatively free from the liquidmedium in which they are quenched.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description.

According to our invention, we provide apparatus for forming solidifiedparticles from molten material which comprises a spinning dish forreceiving the molten material and for disintegrating it and throwing itoutwardly therefrom in the form of small globules. This spinning dish issurrounded by a revolving container which'is adapted to contain theliquid cooling medium into which the globules are thrown. The revolvingcontainer is so shaped and is rotated at such a speed, that the liquidcooling medium contained therein will be formed into a revolving body ofliquid which closely surrounds the spinning dish and which has an innervertical surface substan- 4 sageways for the liquid and the solidifiedparticles.

The unit I (Figure 1) may be of any suitable type for receiving moltenmaterial and feeding it downwardly in the form of a thin stream. Itpreferably is provided with means (not shown) for varying the size ofthe stream of molten material fed therefrom and the velocity of thestream issuing therefrom.

All of the other units of the machine are supported bya suitable frame I(Figures 1 and 6). The container 3 is supported adjacent the upper endof this frame. This container includes an upper section'B and a lowersection 9 of cylintially normal to the path of travel of the globulesthrown from the periphery of the spinning dish. Within the container andwithin the revolving body of liquid therein, we provide an outwardly anddownwardly sloping guide wall for guiding the solidified particles,formed in the liquid body, to collecting points which are disposed atcircumferentially spaced points around the container. Associated witheach of these collecting points, is a novel collecting and dischargeunit which collects the solidified particles, separates them from theliquid cooling medium, and discharges them from the apparatus, all beingaccomplished without interrupting operation of the apparatus.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill appear from the following description and appended claims whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a partof the specification wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts in the several views and I wherein:

Figure 1 is a View partly in vertical section and partly in sideelevation of apparatus constructed according to our invention. v

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly cut aw y, of the apparatus shown inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view, partly cut away, of a main portion ofthe machine shown in Figure'l.

With reference to the drawings, we have illustrated apparatus whichcomprises in general (Figure 1) a unit I for supplying the moltenmaterial, a spinning dish 2 into which the stream of molten material isdischarged and which disinte grates it into the form of globules, arevolvin container 3 concentric with the spinning dish and adapted tocontain the quenching liquid in the form of a revolving body of liquidhaving a vertically disposed annular inner wall into which the globulesare thrown after flying from the spinning dish, a guide wall 4 which isdisposed within the container 3 and surrounds the dish 2 and which is soshaped that after the solidified particles are formed in passing throughthe liquid they strike this wall and are guided thereby outwardly anddownwardly to a plurality ofcollecting pockets which are spacedcircumferentially oi the container, a collecting rotatable dischargeconveyer 5 at each of these collecting pockets and adischarge funnelunit 6 provided withseparate pasdrical form, which are provided withperipheral flanges I0 at their meeting edges. Secured between theseflanges is the peripheral edge of a horizontally disposed disk orpartition II. This partition I I is provided with a large centralaperture I2. The top of the upper section 8 of the container 3 isprovided with a centrally disposed large aperture which is surrounded bya bearing collar I3. This collar I3 rotatably fits within a bearing I4which is carried by a top plate I5, attached to the top of frame I, andis concentric with the bearing collar I3. Disposed within the centralaligning openings in the plate I5 and the top plate of the section 8 isa water supplying unit I6 of annular form. This unit is provided with apcripheral flange I! on its upper edge which will rest on the topsurface of plate I5. This unit I extends below the top plate of section8 and is provided with outlet openings I8 at its lower edge and spacedcircumferentially in its inner wall. These openings IB are adapted tosupply liquid into the container 3 and are directed radially outwardlythereof. The upper edge of unit I6 is provided with an upstandingfitting I9 for connecting it to a water supply pipe 20. The interior ofthe unit I6 is provided with a plurality of battles 2I which arevertically disposed and which are provided with apertures 22. Thesebaflies aid in providing uniform distribution of the water around theunit IS. The unit I6 will remain stationary and extends freely throughthe opening in the top of the container section 8 to permit relativerotation of the container 3.

The guide wall 4 is supported by the partition II in the container 3 andall portions of the wall are spaced a substantial distance from thecenter of the partition. This guide wall is of the unique outline shownin Figure 2. It is shown as being provided with three collecting pockets23 although this number may be varied. Each of the pockets 23 is formedby a section of the wall 4 extending between the two points 24 spacedaround the axis of the container 3 and being the points of wall 4closest to said axis. At these points 24, the wall 4 is verticallydisposed. Midway between these points or along the dotted line 25, shownin Figure 2, the wall 4 slopes outwardly and downwardly at an angle ofpreferably less than 45 from the horizontal. Thus, the angularity of thesection of the wall 4 from the position 24 to the position 25 changesfrom to less than 45. As will later appear, this causes the solidifiedparticles to be guided to the center or outermost extremity of thepocket 23. The lower edge of the wall 4 rests upon and is secured to thehorizontal partition II. Secured to the upper edge of the wall 4(Figures 1 and 6) is a disk-likeplate 26. This plate 26 is provided withan upstanding annular flange 21 at the center thereof which extendsupwardly and loosely within the water supplyeases-ea ing unit Ht so asto be freeto rotate relative thereto-..

one of the colle'cting and 'dis'ch'arg'ing conveyor units is. associatedwith each, of the collecting pockets 23. The conveyor 5, as shown bestin Figures 1 and 4, is disposed directly below the horizontal partitionll; It isof annular form and isimounted for rotation about the axis ofa'ver'tically disposed shaft 28. As indicated in Figure 2, the axis ofthe shaft 28 is disposed in the same vertical planeas the line whichextends radially from the center of the container 3-: throughthe'midpoint of the section of the wall l which-forms the pocket 23.

Each of the-conveyor units 5, as'shown best in'Ffgu'rs3-and 4, comprisesa horizontally disposed plate 291" This plate is provided with acentrally disposed hub 38' which is keyed tothe vertical shaftlii. Theupper end of the shaft 28'is' rotatably disposed in an inverted bearingcup 31* that is disposed in an opening formed in the partition I! andwhich is bolted to such partition; The shaft 28 extends downwardlythrough a-- bearing sleeve 32 which is disposed substantiallyfluid-tight in an opening in the bo'ttomt plate of the lower section 9of the containerJS; Attached'to the periphery of the plate 29-areconcentric inner and outer rims 33 and 342 The rimss i's inclinedinwardly and down wardly, while the rim 1% is vertically disposed andhas an inwardly extending ledge or flange on it'supper edge. A pluralityof particle re ceiv-ing -compartments 36 are formed between the rims33and 34 by means of the vanes 31 which extend almost tangentially fromthe rim 33 and outwardly to the rim 35 in a direction oppositeto-th-edirection of rotation of the conveyer unit 5; asshown best inFigure 3. The bottom wall of each compartment 36 is provided with adischarge aperture 38 adjacent the inner rim 33 andiat the trailingsurface of the vane ill. At the-outer side of the pockets 23, aplurality of dischargeslots Stare formed adjacent the lower edge ofthe-guide wall 4. These slots are formed in the partition ll directlyover the conveyor 5 andare concentric with the conveyer. As shownin'-Fi'gure 4, the particles will be guided through these dischargeslots 39 by the outwardly sloping guide wall l. Attached to the lowersurface of thepartition ll; outwardly beyond the slots 39, is a guidebaiile id which extends circumferentially beyondthe outer ends of theendmost slots 39: This guide baflle all slopes downwardly and outwardlyand is, in effect, a continuation of the-guide wall t. The upper edge ofeach of the vanes 3i is notched, as indicated at ll, suffioi-ently toprevent interference with the baiiie ill.

Asshown'inl igure 4, the particles which contact 'theguide wall t willbe guided outwardly andldownwardly through the discharge slots 39 andwill be guided by baffle til into the comp'artments 35 in the conveyorunit 5, this travel being caused by centrifugal force created byrevolving'thecon'tainer 3 at a high rate of speed. The particlesdischarged into each of the successive compartments 38 will be heldagainst the rim -tl thereofby centrifugal force created by revolvingthe'container 3; However, the conveyor 5-will beslowl'yrotatedto moveeach successive compartment'tfi from its loading point, adjacent theperiphery of the revolving container 3 to its discharge pointsubstantially at the center of the container 3; During this travelthrough sub stantially: 180, the particlesin the compartment 36 :willshift" from the outeri rim 34' to the inner force;=created by rotationof the containers;-

1 The inwardlys'lopihg'rim will act as a guide fordi'recting 'theseparticles downwardly through theap'ert'ure 38 whenthe conipartmentst-treaoh the discharge point ad jacenlfi the center of the container 3. Itis preferred that this rir'n -tt be at an -angle=relative tothe-horizontal so that the particles will be forced downwardly: throughthe discharge aperture 38 and to preventpiling up of the particles'against the riml The particles discharged from the conveyor units 5drop-into the central funnel '42 of-the funnel unit 5; Theupper'endofth'is funnel e2 projects upwardly through a" centrally disposedopening" 43 formed in the bottom plate of the lower section S'ofthecontainer 3; v The Tunnel 32 is concentric with the container 3; Theopening deserves asa water discharge opening for thec'ontainer 3, theedge ofthe-opening being the innermost limit of the-body of water whichcan be formedin the container 3; Surrounding the opening 33'- is anoutwardly and downwardly stantially free of water.

sloping flange 44; This flange 44" overlaps an inwardly andnpwardly"extending lip d5" which is formed on the upper edge of a water receivingfunnel it. The funnel is concentric with the particle receivingfunnel42; Thus, it will'be apparent that the conveyer units 5'extendinwa'rdly closely adjacent the center of the container Sand almostto the center of the funnel 42'. Consequently, as each compartmenttli ofeach conveyer unit moves beyond the edgeof opening 43, which willbe theinnermost limit of, the body of water in container 3, water willflowfrom the compartment and by the timetheparticles are discharged into thefunnel 42 they will be sub Thefunnels Q'Z'and lfi are provided withconcentric downwardly eXtending tubular extensions 41? and 48,respectively. The lower end of the extensions 47 is provided with anangularly directed dis charge'endell which will direct thesolidified-particles into a suitable receptac1e. The lower endlof. theextension 48 is provided with a pipeSD- leading therefrom to conduct theexcess water toa suitable point.

The members and 46 and the extensions ill and d8 thereof are allstationary. As previously indicated, the container 3 is so mounted thatit can be revolved at-a high-rate of speed. To stationarily support theextensionAB ofthe funnel 46 a collar 5! is fastenedto thelower end,thereof (Figure 1). This collar is rigidly secured to transverse beams52 which form a part of the frame 7. Th member 41 is held within themember 48 in spaced relationship therewith by being passed through an.opening-in-the closed bottom of the tubular member 48' and being weldedthereto, as at 53.

The container 3 is supported for rotation by means of a frame 54. Thisframehas a plurality of vertically disposed arms 55-(Figure l) the upperends of which are fastened to the bottom plate of the lower section 9 ofthe container. The frame is provided with a similar number ofhorizontally extending arms 56; the outer end of each of these armsbeing attache'dto the lower end of one of the vertical arms 55. Theinner ends of these horizontal arms 561 are secured to a bearing 51which rotates on the member t8. The arms 56 rest upon and are fixed to alarge pulley 58; This pulley 58 is rotatably supported onthe collar 5l=by" means of a thrust bearing 59. The pulley 58 is of a multipl groovetype and is driven by a set of belts 60 which extend horizontally arounda smaller multiple groove pulley Bl. The pulley 61 is carried by thevertically disposed drive shaft of a variable speed electric motor 62which is attached to the frame 1. Thus, the motor 62 will drive pulleyBi and the large pulley 58. This will rotate the frame 54 about thetubular member 58 and will, consequently, revolve the container 3 aboutits own axis. The collar 13 attached to the top wall of the containerwill rotate in bearing 14.

For rotating each of the conveyer units 5. a speed reduction unit 63 isassociated with each of the vertical shafts 28 which carries theconveyerunit. Each unit 63 is secured to one of the vertical arms 55 of theframe 54. The unit 63 is driven by a multiple groove pulley 64. A singledriving belt 65 (Figure passes around each of the pulleys 64 and arounda large pulley .66 which is mounted on the tube 48 is fixed position.Thus, when the frame 54 and container revolve, the pulley 64 willrevolve about the stationary pulley 66. Therefore, the pulleys 64 willbe rotated around their own axes. Consequently, the various speedreduction units 63 will be driven and they, in turn, will drive thevarious shafts 28 at a comparatively low rate of speed. This will serveto rotate the conveyor units 5 at a low rate of speed. As shown by thearrows in Figure 3, the container 3 is preferably rotatedcounterclockwise and the conveyor units 5 are rotated clockwise.

Disposed centrally within the tubular member 4'! and the funnel 42 is avertically disposed spindle 61, as shown best in Figure l. The upper endof the spindle is rotatably supported by means of a bearing sleeve 68supported centrally within the funnel 42 by means of a spider 69attached to the funnel. The lower end of the spindle extends downwardlythrough a bearing leeve 10 carried by the lower end of the tubularmember $1. The upper end of the spindle 61 carries the spinning dish 2.The lower end of the spindle has a pulley H splined thereto. This pulleyis driven by a belt 12 which passes around a smaller pulley 13. Thepulley 13 is keyed to the vertically disposed drive shaft of a, variablspeed electric motor 14 which is fastened to the frame 1. The spindle 61is, thus, driven by the motor 14 at any selected speed. It will beapparent that the spinning dish 2 and the container 3 are drivenindependently of each other and the speed of one can be regulatedindependently of the speed of the other.

The spindle 51 is not only rotatable in the bearings 6'8 and 10. but isalso vertically movable therein. For movin the spindle vertically, weprovide a bellcrank lever 15 which is pivoted to the frame, as at 16.The inwardly extending arm 11 of this lever extends beneath the lowerend of the spindle 6'! and is provided with an end portion 18 whichengages the lower end of the spindle. By operating the lever 15, thespindle may be moved vertically. Thereby, before the molten l materialis initially fed into the dish 2, the dish may be raised vertically toa. position above the top of unit IE to allow it to be preheated by atorch. Normally the spindle 61 is in its lowermost position so that thedish 2 in its lowermost position with its upper edge intermediate theheight of the guide Wall 4. At this time the unit i will be disposedconcentrically of the container 3 and will extend down into the unit Hi.

The dish 2 is provided with a boss 19 which removably fits on the upperend of spindle 6?.- Thus, the dish 2 may be replaced readily. The dishis provided with a refractory liner which has a dish-shaped innersurface upon which the stream of molten material is directed.

In the operation of this apparatus, the container 3 and the spinningdish 2 are driven at suitable speeds. Water is supplied into thecontainer by means of the unit [6. The amount of water supplied dependsupon the extent, in a horizontal direction, of the revolving body ofwater to be formed within the revolving container 43, The container 3 isrevolved at such a speed that the water supplied thereinto will beformed into an annular body which will have an inner surface S whichwill be substantially vertical. The maximum extent of this body of waterin a horizontal direction will be the radial distance from the edge ofopening 43 to the side wall of container 3, inasmuch as any excess willflow out of the container through the opening 43.

As previously indicated, the machine is particularly useful in theshotting of metal. If it is used for this purpose, the molten metal issupplied from the unit I and is discharged in the form of a small streaminto the spinning dish 2. The speed of rotation of the spinning dish isregulated according to the size of shot particles desired and isproportional to the rate of delivery to it of the molten metal from theunit I and to the fluidity of that metal. When the molten stream strikesthe bottom of the dish which is spinning at a high rate of speed, itwill be caused by centrifugal force to travel up the inclined wall ofthe dish and will be thrown outwardly from the upper edge of the dish ina path substantially tangential thereto. By the time the molten metalleaves the dish, it will be in the form of globules which will travel ina horizontal path unsupported through the ambient atmosphere until theyenter the revolving wall of liquid. Because this wall of liquid issubstantially normal to the path of travel of the globules, they willenter into the water without glancing from the surface thereof.Furthermore, because the wall of liquid is spinning, when the globulesstrike the surface thereof, the spinning action imparted to the globuleswill offset the tendency for them to become flattened upon striking theliquid By providing the wall or body of water with its inner cylindricalsurface S positioned about the spinning dish and extending essentiallyvertically for some distance above and below the dish, the distancebetween the edge of the dish and the surface of the water can beregulated very closely and this distance can be very short. In thismanner, the fine globules of metal enter the Water almostinstantaneously after being thrown from the periphery of the dish and,consequently, are given practically no opportunity to ignite or burn tometal oxide. The distance between the spinning dish and the water issuch that the globules of metal will enter the water before they havesolidified. This distance can be regulated merely by varying the amountof Water in the container 3 after the container reaches a minimum speedof rotation sufiicient to cause the inner surface of the water to besubstantially vertical. Thus, to control this distance it is merelynecessary to control one variable.

The wall or body of water must be of sumcient extent in the direction oftravel of the globules which enter thereinto that the globules will becooled by the water to the solidification point be- 9 fore they strikethe outwardly sloping guide wall 4. As the, globules enter and passthrough the water they traverse a somewhat lengthened arclikepath,asshown in Figure 4, from their .point of :entry'into the water. Forthis reason, a rela- I tively small amount of water is required toobtain sufiicient cooling of the shot particles before they hit theslopingsguidewall 4. As a result, less water for cooling "may beemployed and, consequently, less poweris required to rotate thecontainer 3 and the apparatus may be made much smaller than prior artapparatus.

Before the particles strike the guide wall 4 even atits innermost points24, the particles are in solidified form. The particlesarequenchhardened during their passage through the water. When theparticles do strike the wall 4,, they are moved by the action ofcentrifugal force and the slopeof the guide wall outwardly anddownwardly towards the partition H. the wall 4 adjacent the midpoint ofeach pocket 23 will be moved downwardly only towards the discharge slots39. However, particles striking the guide wall 4 of each side of themidpoint of the pocket will not only be directed downwardly thereby, butwill also be directed laterally in both directions towards the midpointof the pocket which is the outermost extremity thereof. Thus,centrifugal force created by rotatlonxof the container 3 not only causesthe guide wall 4 to direct the shot particles toward the bottom of thepocket formed by partition I l but also toward the outermostextremity'of the pocket where the discharge slots '39 are located.

The particles discharged from each of the pockets 23 pass downwardlythrough the slots 39 into the successive compartments 38 carried by theconveyer unit 5. As previously explained, this conveyor unit rotatesslowly and conveys the particles through substantially 180 of rotationbefore they are discharged into the funnel 42. During this travel theparticles are shifted from the outer side of each compartment 36 to theinnor or discharge side thereof by the action of centrifugal force,produced byrotation of the con tainer 3. When they 'reach'the funnel'42,they are discharged by centrifugal force, created by rotation of thecontainer 3. through the discharge Th particles striking apertures 38adjacent the'inner rim 33. The con- I of the particles from the conveyerunits. As pre-.

viously indicated, when the particle-containing compartments 36 oftheconveyor units 5 are moved beyond the'inner surfacesof the revolvingbody of waten'any water in the compartments 3? willflow therefrom. Thus,by the time theparticles are discharged into the funnel 42, they will besubstantially free: of water.

Itwill be apparent from the above description that we have providedapparatus for forming solidified particles from molten material whichis:- continuous in operation and which is capable of an increasedproduction. The apparatus forms the particles, collects them, separatesthe particles fromthe liquid quenching medium, and discharges theparticles, all during the continuous operation of the machine. Theapparatus is especially useful for the shottin'g of metals which tend toreact with the usual: liquid medium, such as water, becaus the metal:shot is quickly removed from contact with the liquid cooling m dium.

10 Various other advantages will be apparent from the precedingdescription, thedrawings, and the following claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. Apparatus for forming solidified particles from moltenmaterialcomprising a member rotatable about a vertical axis upon which a streamof themolten material is'discharged and which is adapted to disintegratethe stream into globules, and throw them outwardly therefrom a liquidcontainer surrounding said member and adapted to contain quenchingliquid for said globules, said container being rotatable about avertical axis, means for rotating said member and a guide wall at theinterior or the container surrounding said memberand being spacedoutwardlytherefrom, said guide wall having its lower edge disposed'atalevel "substantially below the globule discharge level of said member sothat globulestnrownoii said-member will strike said guide wall and beguided thereby, said guide wall being so formed as'to provide a particlecollecting pocket, and a conveyor unit associated with said pocket forremoving the collected particles therefrom and discharging them from thecontainer during the'cohtihuoiisrotation thereof.

2. Apparatus for forming solidified particles from molten materialcomprising a. member rotatable about a vertical axis upon which a streamof the molten material is discharged and which is adaptedto'disintegra-te the stream into globules and throw them substantiallyhorizontally therefrom, a liquid container surrounding said member andbeing rotatable so that when rotated at a selected speed a revolvingbody of liquid will be formed which surrounds said member and whichreceives the globules thrown therefrom means for rotating said memberand said container, a guide wall at the interior of the containersurrounding said member and being spaced outwardly therefrom, said guidewall having its lower edge disposed at a level substantially below theglobule discharge level of said member so that globules thrown from saidmember will strike said guide wall and be guided thereby, said guidewall being s'o'formed as to provide a plurality of particle collectingpockets at points spaced along the periphery of saidcontainer, and aconveyer ur'nt associated with each of said pockets for removing thecollected particles and discharging them from the container during thecontinuous rotation of the container.

3. Apparatus for forming solidified particles from molten materialcomprising a member rotatable about a vertical axis upon which a streamof the molten material is discharged and which is adapted todisintegrate the stream into globules and throw them substantiallyhorizontally therefrom, an annular liquid container surrounding saidmember and being rotatable about a vertical axis so that when rotated ata selected speed a revolving body of liquid will be formed whichsurrounds said member and which receives the globules thrown therefrom,means for rotating said member and said container, a, guide wall at theinterior of the container surrounding said member and being spacedoutwardly therefrom, said guide wall having its loweredge disposed at alevel substantially below the globue discharge level of said member sothat globules thrown therefrom will strike said guide wall and be guidedthereby, said guide wall beingso'iormed as to provide a pluralityofp'article collecting pockets at points spaced circumferentially ofsaid container,

each of said pockets having a discharge outlet adjacent the outer sidethereof, a conveyor unit disposed in said container and associated witheach of said pockets for receiving the particles discharged from saidpocket, said conveyer unit being rotatable about a vertical axis spacedoutwardly from the axis of said container and being adapted to transferthe particles from the discharge point of the pocket throughsubstantially 180 to a discharge point where the particles aredischarged from the container, and means for rotating each of saidconveyers upon rotation of said container.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each of said pockets is formedby a section of the guide wall which is substantially U shape inhorizontal cross-section so that the pocket has a mouth directed towardsthe axis of the container and which is substantially vertical at itsinner ly at an angle of less than 45 intermediate its ends.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein means is provided for limitingthe inward extent of said body of liquid so that its inner surface willalways be spaced from said rotatable member.

6. Apparatus accordingto claim 3 wherein said container is provided witha centrally disposed opening which limits the inward extent of said bodyof liquid and wherein each of said conveyer units extends inwardlybeyond the edge of said opening so that the particles conveyed therebywill be separated from the liquid before being discharged therefrom.

Al paratus according to claim 3 wherein said conveyer unit comprisesinner and outer rims which are spaced from each other. vanes extendingbetween said rims for forming particle receiving compartmentstherebetween, said compartmgnt having discharge outlets at their inners1 es. 1

8. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said conveyer unit comprisesinner and outer rims which are spaced from each other, vanes extendingbetween said rims for forming particle receiving compartmentstherebetween, said compartments having discharge outlets at their innersides, said inner rim being inclined inwardly and downwardly towards thecenter of the conveyer so as to direct the particles from saidcompartments through said discharge outlets.

9. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said container is providedwith a centrally disposed opening which limits the inward extent of saidbody of liquid and wherein each of said conveyer units extend inwardlybeyond the edge of said opening so that the particles conveyed therebywill be separated from the liquid before being discharged therefrom, afunnel unit disposed beneath said opening, said funnel unit comprisingan outer funnel for receiving the liquid and an inner funnel forreceiving the particles from each of said conveyer units.

10. Apparatus for forming solidified particles from molten materialcomprising a container for will strike said wall and will be guidedthereby, said guide wall being so formed as to provide a particlecollecting pocket, said pocket having a discharge outlet in the bottomthereof adjacent the outer side thereof, a conveyer unit disposed insaid container below said pocket for receiving the particles dischargedfrom said pocket, said conveyer unit being rotatable about a verticalaxis spaced outwardly from the axis of said container and being adaptedto transfer the particles from the'discharge point of the pocket throughsubstantially to a discharge point where the particles are dischargedfrom the container, and means for rotating said conveyer upon rotationof said container.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said pocket is formed by asection of the guide wall which is substantially vertical at its endsand which slopes outwardly anddownwardly at an angle of less than 45intermediate its ends.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein means is provided forlimiting the inward extent of said body of liquid.

13. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said container is providedwith a centrally disposed opening which limits the inward extent of saidbody of liquid and wherein said conveyer unit extends inwardly beyondthe edge of said opening so that the particles conveyed thereby will beseparated from the liquid before being discharged therefrom.

14. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said conveyer unit comprisesinner and outer rims which are spaced from each other, vanes extendingbetween said rims for forming particle'receiving compartmentstherebetween, said compartments having discharge outlets at their innersides.

15. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said conveyer unit comprisesinner and outer rims which are spaced from each other, vanes extendingbetween said rim-s for forming particle receiving compartmentstherebetween, said compartments having discharge outlets at their innerunit extends inwardly beyond the edge of said opening so that theparticles conveyed thereby will be separated from the liquid beforebeing discharged therefrom, a funnel unit disposed beneath said opening,said funnel unit comprising an outer funnel for receiving the liquid andan inner funnel for receiving the particles discharged from saidconveyer unit.

' HAROLD L. KLEIN.

JOHN L. COURTRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 447,511 Goetz Mar. 3, 18911,115,321 Lessing Oct. 2'7, 1941 1,671,683 Podszus May 29, 19281,782,038

Haak Nov. 18, 1930 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,439,776. April13, 1948.

HAROLD L. KLEIN ET AL.

It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 8, line 13, for the numeral 43 read 3; column 10, line 11, claim1, after the syllable ules strike out the comma; same line aftertherefrom insert a comma; line 15, after member insert the-Words andcomma and said container,; line 16, strike out and; line 70, claim 3,for globue read globule;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these correctionstherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of February, A. D. 1949.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

' Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

